Question

2. Critical Thinking Activity: Revolutions in the Western World

A series of revolutions spread across the Atlantic world in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. All of them had their roots in the ideas of the Enlightenment. Many writers from that period believed that power should emanate from the people, not from hereditary kings and nobles. These ideas altered Western society forever.
Despite this overarching similarity, each of these revolutions had deep circumstantial causes and effects. In the following table, match each characteristic with the associated revolution. Check all that apply.
Characteristic
American Revolution
French Revolution
Haitian Revolution
Provoked a war



Created a new country



Temporarily ended slavery



Led to the Reign of Terror

Answer 1

The American Revolution provoked a war leading to a new country, the United States. The French Revolution, with its Reign of Terror, enacted radical changes and abolished slavery temporarily. The Haitian Revolution, fueled by a slave revolt, created Haiti and temporarily ended slavery in the region.

Step-by-step explanation:

Characteristics of the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions

The late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries were marked by significant revolutions across the Atlantic, all deeply influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment. For each revolution, we can identify unique characteristics as well as commonalities rooted in Enlightenment thinking.

• American Revolution: This revolution provoked a war with Great Britain, ultimately leading to the creation of a new country, the United States of America. The conflict was driven by the colonists' demand for independence, and while it reflected Enlightenment principles such as liberty and representation, it initially did not extend these rights to all inhabitants, like slaves or indigenous peoples.
• French Revolution: France's revolution also sought to replace the traditional royal privileges with a new political model but went through numerous phases, including the radical and violent period known as the Reign of Terror. Temporarily, slavery was abolished in French colonies as a result of the revolution.
• Haitian Revolution: This was a direct challenge to the institution of slavery and led to the creation of the independent country of Haiti. The revolution temporarily ended slavery in the region and was the first successful large-scale slave revolt in history.

Although each revolution had varied consequences and unfolded under different circumstances, the desire for self-determination and the impact of Enlightenment thinking were crucial throughout.